Liverpool have developed a reputation for being ruthlessly efficient in the transfer market, but they are currently in an unfamiliar position.
The mini injury crisis in central midfield has forced Jurgen Klopp to make a U-turn on his transfer stance. Liverpool are now on the lookout for a new midfielder, but are working against the clock, with the summer transfer window closing at 11pm on Thursday evening. That does not give the Reds much room to manoeuvre.
Former sporting director Michael Edwards, and his successor Julian Ward, have a proven track record of pulling rabbits out of hats. But this task will really test the Liverpool recruitment team.
Liverpool’s top target is well known. They are long-term admirers of Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, but the German club have no plans to sell him – and certainly not at this late stage in the summer transfer window. Dortmund reportedly value the England international at £115million, meaning he is a no-go this week.
The range of other names being reported highlight the unfamiliar nature of Liverpool’s search. From laser-focused in their recent pursuits of players like Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate, they are now in danger of going a bit scatter-gun.
Look around and you will see names like Toni Kroos, Frenkie de Jong, Ruben Neves, Sander Berge, Leandro Paredes and Konrad Laimer mentioned. It is true that Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all currently unavailable, but Liverpool still have Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho available.
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What they need to be careful of is making a transfer for the sake of it. Klopp has been clear on this point. He said: “We are looking for it, and if it is the right player we need him and if it is not the right player we don’t need him.”
His stance suggests he has learnt from one of Liverpool’s few recent poor forays into the transfer window. The low point for Liverpool’s recruitment came in the January window of 2021. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez had both gone down with serious knee injuries in late 2020 and central defenders were desperately needed, despite Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams stepping up well to fill the void.
Liverpool ended up signing two new players: Ozan Kabak, on loan from Schalke, and Ben Davies, on a permanent deal from Preston. It’s fair to say that neither worked out. And although it was a difficult position to find themselves in, Liverpool cannot have been happy with their business.
Kabak did at least make 13 appearances for Liverpool, albeit with plenty of mistakes thrown in. Davies, somewhat remarkably given the circumstances of his arrival, never managed to get onto the pitch for Klopp’s side. He was quietly sold to Rangers last month.
It can be argued that little harm was done. Kabak was a loan deal and the expense attached to Davies was minor in comparison to other first-team players. But the experience still provides food for thought for the club as they search for a midfielder before the deadline on Thursday.
